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Dutch Bros Wage and Hour PAGA Lawsuit in California – Statewide Employee Claims

The Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling Wage and Hour Lawsuit Explained By Setareh Law Group

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This page provides an informational overview of the Dutch Bros wage and hour PAGA lawsuit in California based solely on the allegations and statements contained in the legal complaint filed in California Superior Court. The information below summarizes what the lawsuit claims and should not be read as proven fact or legal advice. This page is structured to help employees across California understand the legal complaint, alleged violations, and potential statewide impact.

Overview of the Lawsuit Against Dutch Bros. in California

  • Plaintiff: Jovany Parra-Ortega, on behalf of himself, other aggrieved employees, and the general public.
  • Defendant: Dutch Bros., LLC, an Oregon limited liability company, and Does 1–50.
  • Court: Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.
  • Case Type: Representative action seeking civil penalties under the California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).
  • Claims Alleged: Missed meal periods, unpaid minimum wages and off-the-clock work, failure to reimburse business expenses, inaccurate wage statements, and failure to timely pay final wages.
  • Filing Date: Electronically filed November 25, 2025 (complaint dated November 18, 2025).

What the Complaint Alleges & Key Allegations:

According to the legal complaint, the plaintiff alleges that Dutch Bros. maintained employment practices that resulted in hourly, non-exempt employees not being paid for all hours worked, including time spent waiting to clock in and time spent completing required online training modules off the clock. The lawsuit also alleges that employees were not provided legally compliant meal periods, were not reimbursed for necessary business expenses, and received wage statements that did not accurately reflect hours worked and wages earned.

Timeline:

he complaint states that the named plaintiff worked for Dutch Bros. as an hourly, non-exempt employee from approximately September 30, 2024, through February 16, 2025. The lawsuit was electronically filed on November 25, 2025. Any broader class timeframe is not stated in the complaint.

Policies and Practices Described:

The lawsuit claims that employees were required to clock in using a single tablet located on the premises, which allegedly caused workers to wait in line for several minutes before being able to clock in. The complaint also alleges that employees were directed or encouraged to complete job-related training and tests through an online work app outside of scheduled work hours without being paid for that time.

Who the Lawsuit Says May Be Impacted:

According to the complaint, the representative action is brought on behalf of “aggrieved employees” who worked for Dutch Bros. in California during the relevant period. Specific job titles, store locations, or departments are not stated in the complaint.

Common Complaints People Report:

This section summarizes general categories of concerns described in the legal complaint. These reflect allegations and not findings of fact.

  • Waiting in line to clock in and not being paid for that time.
  • Completing required online training or tests outside scheduled shifts without pay.
  • Not receiving uninterrupted 30-minute meal periods during longer shifts.
  • Paying out-of-pocket for work-related cell phone use without reimbursement.
  • Receiving wage statements that did not accurately list hours worked or wages earned.
  • Not receiving all final wages promptly after separation from employment.

Who May Be Affected:

Based on the complaint, the lawsuit discusses potentially affected employees throughout California, including individuals working in Northern California, Southern California, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and other regions of the state.

  • You may relate if you worked as an hourly, non-exempt employee for Dutch Bros. in California.
  • You may relate if you waited to clock in using a shared timekeeping device and were not paid for that time.
  • You may relate if you completed required training or testing outside your scheduled work hours.
  • You may relate if you were unable to take uninterrupted meal periods during your shifts.
  • You may relate if you used your personal cell phone for work-related tasks without reimbursement.
  • You may relate if you did not receive all final wages when your employment ended.

What Damages or Relief the Lawsuit Seeks

According to the complaint’s prayer for relief and PAGA allegations, the plaintiff seeks:

  • Civil penalties under the California Labor Code and PAGA.
  • Declaratory relief.
  • Pre-judgment interest.
  • Costs of suit.
  • Reasonable attorneys’ fees.
  • Such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.

Important Case Details:

  • Court: Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Case Number: 25STCV34427
  • Filing Date: November 25, 2025 (complaint dated November 18, 2025)
  • Plaintiff: Jovany Parra-Ortega
  • Defendant: Dutch Bros., LLC, and Does 1–50
  • Venue: Los Angeles County, California
  • Causes of Action: Civil penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (Lab. Code § 2698 et seq.) for alleged violations of multiple California Labor Code provisions, including sections related to wages, meal periods, expense reimbursement, wage statements, and final pay.

What to Do If You Think You’re Affected:

  • Save copies of your pay stubs, schedules, and any written workplace policies.
  • Document when you waited to clock in, completed training, or missed breaks.
  • Keep records of any work-related expenses you paid out of pocket.
  • Avoid discussing details of your situation publicly.
  • Consider contacting an employment attorney to discuss how the allegations may relate to your circumstances.

👉 Learn more about our firm: https://www.setarehlaw.com
👉 Read about Meal Period laws in California: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_mealperiods.htmhttps://oag.ca.gov/consumers

Why Choose Setareh Law Group

  • Experience representing employees in wage-and-hour and class action employment matters.
  • Client-focused approach that prioritizes communication and transparency.
  • Contingency-fee representation in appropriate cases, meaning no upfront legal fees in many situations.
  • Resources to handle complex litigation against large employers.
  • Commitment to ethical advocacy and professional responsibility.
  • Personalized attention throughout the legal process.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is there a Dutch Bros statewide wage and hour PAGA lawsuit in California?

According to the legal complaint, a representative action has been filed in California Superior Court alleging Labor Code violations and seeking civil penalties under PAGA. These are allegations, not proven findings.

What does the lawsuit against Dutch Bros claim?

The complaint alleges off-the-clock work, missed meal periods, failure to reimburse business expenses, inaccurate wage statements, and failure to timely pay final wages, among other Labor Code violations.

Who filed the Dutch Bros lawsuit?

The complaint lists Jovany Parra-Ortega as the named plaintiff.

Is this a class action or a PAGA case?

The lawsuit is described as a representative action seeking civil penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act, which is different from a traditional class action.

What time period does the Dutch Bros PAGA lawsuit cover?

The complaint states that the named plaintiff worked from approximately September 30, 2024, through February 16, 2025. Any broader timeframe for other employees is not stated in the complaint.

What kind of employees may be affected by this lawsuit?

The complaint refers to hourly, non-exempt “aggrieved employees” who worked for Dutch Bros. in California.

What penalties or relief is the lawsuit seeking?

According to the complaint, the lawsuit seeks civil penalties, declaratory relief, pre-judgment interest, costs of suit, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and other relief the Court deems just and proper.

Has the court made a ruling in the Dutch Bros case?

No court rulings or outcomes are stated in the complaint.

Do I need a lawyer to learn more about this case?

You are not required to have a lawyer to read about the case, but consulting an employment attorney can help you understand how the allegations may relate to your situation.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

If you believe the allegations in the Dutch Bros wage and hour PAGA lawsuit in California may relate to your experience, you can contact Setareh Law Group to learn more.

You can call us at 310-888-7771 .

Attorneys for Plaintiffs:

SETAREH LAW GROUP:
Shaun C. Setareh, SBN 204514

420 N Camden Dr,
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-888-7771

Your case evaluation is 100% FREE, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Click the button below to get started. Our experienced wage and hour attorneys will review your case and explain your rights at no cost and with no obligation.

*Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances. Consult with a qualified California employment attorney to discuss your individual situation. The settlements and case results summary overview described on this page represent outcomes in specific cases and should not be interpreted as a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of any other case. Case valuations depend on numerous factors including the severity of injuries, the strength of evidence, the jurisdiction, and many other variables unique to each matter. 

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